Letter 1058. To Mother Mane Marguerite Michel

My good and dearest Daughter,—It certainly must be acknowledged that divine Providence has, in a very special way, blessed your foundation by making it succeed so happily amidst such great difficulties. With all my heart I say, May God be praised and thanked! I regard the contradictions and oppositions that you have met with in this undertaking as certain signs of the glory God intends to draw from it. This He will do by means of the many dear souls who will vow and consecrate themselves therein to His holy service; and as they will possess the same high virtue as those now with you, one cannot but expect great results.

I rejoice at what you say about M. Chassignet wishing to write the history of the foundation; written by so skilful a pen it is sure to be the means of consolation and edification to many. As we are speaking of him, salute him affectionately, I beseech you, for me, and assure him that I greatly value his continual devotedness to us. Tell him under what great obligations the Institute feels itself towards him. Together with you I bless God for the affection and goodwill, contrary to the general opinion, which your good Archbishop shows you. Do all you can to foster it, so as to make use of it for the establishing of our poor sisters of Thonon at Pontarlier, especially as he has, from what you say, already shown some inclination to be kind to them. I wrote to you about this matter not long ago by M. Pioton; and I feel sure you are too kind to forget anything that may further its accomplishment. It is also a great comfort to me that you have received as a benefactress Madame de Faverolle. Your house will thereby gain much temporal profit, and it will also be spiritually helped by the consolation and edification her virtue gives. Indeed, dearest daughter, your letter contains nothing that is not matter of thanksgiving, especially your good fortune both as regards your spiritual father and your confessor, who, you say, 1s provided with all the requisite qualifications—a very singular blessing.

I do not remember to have heard that the dowry of the four sisters suffered some loss, or that its payment in any way damaged the house of Dijon. We must be careful, if one has given one’s word, to keepit. I have no doubt but that in a short time, with your attention, care,and accustomed zeal, you will put your own house into a satisfactory state both temporally and spiritually. As to the esteem you tell me there is for the Institute, I believe that the more one knows the spirit of the true daughters of the Visitation the more it will be loved, and particularly where you are. I am persuaded the earnest desire our Blessed Father had that we should make a foundation at Besancon could not have been fornothing. Neither will you stop at that, for the tone of mind there is so good and adaptable to our manner oO of life that God, who has guided and sustained you amidst such difficulties in this first beginning, will not fail to open out for you many other ways of spreading your branches further, and of exercising your zeal in training these virtuous and lovable souls. This, dearest daughter, is the fourth or fifth letter that I have written to you since you left Dijon, and none have I received from you, except that which I am now answering and one you wrote me on your arrival at Monclez. I bethink me that I ought to tell you, quite in confidence, that M. de la Tour’s house, in which you now are, seems to me unsuitable for the building of your monastery, and I cannot understand from your letter whether you have rented it or what.

When I was at Besancon I remember we were told that the town had very fine open spaces, so choose one of them, I beg of you, for your building—-one that is healthy, airy, and open, which apparently M. de la Tour’s site is not. You would be too confined there. This little word of warning as to where to settle I thought I ought quite simply to give you—for I know you wish that you and I should live together in full trust.

May God abundantly shower upon you and your dear family the richest treasures of His grace! I salute you and all, not forgetting good Pére Bally and dear Sister Madeleine [Adelaine].